27 Highlights on Dirty Blonde Hair

Dirty blonde hair offers the perfect canvas for highlights.

This naturally dimensional shade sits between blonde and brown, giving you incredible versatility when adding lighter or darker accents.

Adding highlights to your dirty blonde base can enhance your natural color, bring out your facial features, and add movement to your hair without a complete color overhaul.

Ready to refresh your look? Explore these 27 highlighting techniques that will transform your dirty blonde locks while maintaining that coveted natural-looking dimension.

1: Honey Blonde Balayage

Honey blonde highlights hand-painted onto dirty blonde hair create a sun-kissed effect that looks incredibly natural.

These warm-toned accents blend seamlessly with your base color. The subtle contrast adds dimension without looking overly processed.

Ask your colorist to concentrate these highlights around your face and ends for a gradient effect.

2: Platinum Money Pieces

Frame your face with platinum blonde pieces that instantly brighten your complexion.

These lighter sections at the front create a striking contrast against your dirty blonde base.

Keep the rest of your highlights more subtle to maintain balance. This technique draws attention to your eyes and cheekbones while creating the illusion of fuller hair.

3: Caramel Ribbon Highlights

Caramel ribbon highlights add warmth and richness to dirty blonde hair. These slightly darker accents create depth and dimension throughout your locks.

Ask for these ribbons to be placed strategically throughout your hair rather than in a uniform pattern.

This placement creates a more natural, sun-kissed effect that enhances your base color.

4: Ash Blonde Baby-lights

Ultra-fine ash blonde baby-lights mimic the natural lightening effect of the sun. The cool ash tone helps neutralize any brassiness in your base color.

These delicate highlights blend seamlessly with dirty blonde hair for a subtle brightness boost.

Request these throughout your hair for an all-over lightened effect that still looks completely natural.

5: Butterscotch Lowlights

Add richness to your dirty blonde hair with butterscotch lowlights. This technique adds visual interest while maintaining your blonde identity.

These warmer, slightly darker strands create gorgeous dimension and depth without darkening your overall look.

Intersperse these lowlights sparingly throughout your hair, focusing on the underneath sections.

6: Face-Framing Blonde Highlights

Brighten your complexion with face-framing blonde highlights that start at your part and blend down around your face.

These strategic placements draw attention to your best features. This technique creates a beautiful halo effect around your face.

Keep these highlights a level or two lighter than your dirty blonde base for a natural yet noticeable difference.

7: Golden Ribbon Highlights

Weave golden ribbon highlights throughout your dirty blonde hair for a glowing, luxurious finish.

These warm-toned accents catch the light beautifully and add richness to your base color.

Place these highlights from root to tip for a cohesive, blended look.

The golden tone complements the natural warmth in dirty blonde hair, enhancing its inherent dimension.

8: Champagne Blonde Baby-lights

Ultra-fine champagne blonde baby-lights add sophisticated brightness to dirty blonde hair.

These pale, slightly cool-toned highlights create dimension without overwhelming your natural color.

Ask for these delicate highlights throughout your hair for an all-over brightness boost.

The neutral champagne tone works beautifully with both cool and warm skin tones.

9: Toffee Lowlights

Add depth and richness to your dirty blonde hair with toffee-colored lowlights. This technique creates shadow and light for a naturally dimensional look.

These slightly darker strands create gorgeous dimension and prevent your color from looking flat.

Incorporate these lowlights strategically throughout your hair, concentrating more on the underneath sections.

10: Chunky Money Piece

Make a statement with a chunky, lighter blonde money piece at the front of your dirty blonde hair. Keep the rest of your highlights more subtle to create balance.

This bold face-framing technique creates a striking contrast that instantly updates your look.

This Y2K-inspired technique has made a strong comeback and looks particularly flattering with dirty blonde bases.

11: Sandy Blonde Partial Highlights

Sandy blonde highlights concentrated on the top layer of your dirty blonde hair create a natural sun-kissed effect.

This technique mimics how the sun would naturally lighten your hair. Ask your colorist to place these highlights primarily on the crown and around your face.

The neutral sandy tone blends beautifully with dirty blonde, creating subtle dimension.

12: Blonde Balayage

Blonde (brown-blonde) balayage creates a gorgeous melding of blonde and brown tones that perfectly complements a dirty blonde base.

This technique adds depth and dimension without a stark contrast. Request your colorist to hand-paint these highlights for the most natural-looking result.

The gradual blend from your base to lighter ends creates movement and visual interest throughout your hair.

13: Pearl Blonde Highlights

Pearl blonde highlights add a sophisticated, cool-toned brightness to dirty blonde hair.

These opalescent accents create dimension with a modern, fashion-forward edge.

Place these highlights strategically throughout your hair for an all-over brightness boost.

The cool undertones in pearl blonde help neutralize any unwanted warmth in your base color.

14: Beige Blonde Foil yage

Beige blonde foil yage combines foil highlighting with balayage techniques to create a beautiful, blended look on dirty blonde hair.

This hybrid method offers more brightness while maintaining a natural appearance. This technique creates beautiful dimension with a sophisticated finish.

The neutral beige tone complements dirty blonde beautifully without adding too much warmth.

15: Root Smudge with Bright Ends

Keep your roots natural with a root smudge that gradually lightens to brighter blonde ends.

This technique creates beautiful dimension while keeping maintenance manageable.

The seamless transition from your dirty blonde roots to lighter ends looks incredibly natural.

This highlighting technique mimics how hair naturally lightens in the sun.

16: Wheat Blonde Highlights

Wheat blonde highlights add natural-looking brightness to dirty blonde hair.

These neutral-toned accents blend seamlessly with your base color while adding subtle dimension.

Request these highlights throughout your hair for an all-over brightness boost.

The warm yet neutral tone of wheat blonde complements most skin tones while enhancing your dirty blonde base.

17: Honey Comb Money Piece

A honey comb money piece combines honey blonde highlights concentrated around the face with a teased application technique that creates a softer grow-out.

This face-framing technique brightens your complexion instantly. Keep the rest of your highlights more subtle for balance.

The warm honey tone complements dirty blonde hair beautifully while creating that coveted sun-kissed effect.

18: Mushroom Blonde Baby-lights

Mushroom blonde baby-lights add a cool-toned, sophisticated dimension to dirty blonde hair.

These ashy, slightly greige highlights create subtle brightness without warmth. Place these delicate highlights throughout your hair for a cohesive look.

This trending shade works particularly well for those with cool undertones who want to avoid golden or brassy highlights.

19: Vanilla Cream Balayage

Vanilla cream balayage adds beautiful brightness to the mid-lengths and ends of dirty blonde hair.

This technique creates a gorgeous gradient effect from your natural base to lighter ends.

Request your colorist to concentrate these highlights on the layers around your face and ends.

The creamy tone adds brightness without looking overly cool or warm.

20: Brown Sugar Lowlights

Add richness and depth to your dirty blonde hair with brown sugar lowlights. Incorporate these lowlights primarily through the underneath sections of your hair.

These warm, slightly darker accents create beautiful dimension while maintaining your overall blonde identity.

This technique creates gorgeous movement and prevents your color from looking flat or one-dimensional.

21: Silver Blonde Ribbon Highlights

Create a modern, cool-toned look with silver blonde ribbon highlights woven through your dirty blonde hair.

These icy accents add unexpected dimension and a fashion-forward edge.

Place these highlights strategically throughout your hair rather than in a uniform pattern.

The cool silver tone creates beautiful contrast against the natural warmth in dirty blonde hair.

22: Butterscotch Shadow Root

Maintain a natural look with a butterscotch shadow root that gradually transitions to lighter blonde ends.

This technique creates beautiful dimension while keeping maintenance manageable.

The warm butterscotch tone at the roots blends beautifully with dirty blonde hair.

This highlighting technique allows for a softer grow-out while maintaining brightness through the lengths.

23: Caramel Money Piece

Frame your face with caramel-toned highlights that add warmth and brightness around your face.

This technique draws attention to your features while enhancing your dirty blonde base.

Keep these highlights slightly warmer than your base color for a subtle yet effective contrast.

This technique works beautifully to brighten your complexion and add dimension around your face.

24: Baby Blonde Balayage

Lighten the mid-lengths and ends of your dirty blonde hair with baby blonde balayage.

This technique creates a beautiful brightening effect while maintaining your natural base.

Ask your colorist to hand-paint these highlights for the most natural-looking result.

The gradual transition from dirty blonde to baby blonde creates gorgeous dimension and movement.

25: Toasted Almond Lowlights

Add rich dimension to your dirty blonde hair with toasted almond lowlights.

These slightly darker, warm-toned accents create beautiful depth without darkening your overall look.

Weave these lowlights sparingly throughout your hair, focusing on the underneath sections.

This technique adds visual interest while maintaining the brightness of your dirty blonde base.

26: Sunflower Blonde Ribbons

Brighten your dirty blonde hair with sunflower blonde ribbon highlights. Request these highlights from root to tip for a cohesive, blended look.

These golden, warm-toned accents create a beautiful sun-kissed effect that looks naturally enhanced.

The warm golden tone mimics how the sun would naturally lighten dirty blonde hair in the summer.

27: Sandy Beach Balayage

Create a beachy, lived-in look with sandy beach balayage that incorporates multiple blonde tones.

This multi-dimensional technique adds natural-looking brightness to dirty blonde hair.

Ask your colorist to blend neutral sandy tones with slightly warmer accents for the most natural effect.

This highlighting technique mimics the natural lightening effect of sun and salt water.

Conclusion

Whether you choose subtle barylites or bold face-framing pieces, highlights can transform your dirty blonde hair into a multi-dimensional masterpiece.

Consult with your colorist to find the perfect technique for your unique hair and style!